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African American Colleges and Universities

In a formal sense, Historically Black Colleges and Universities are institutions of higher education in the United States that were established before 1964 with the intention of serving the black community.

In a more practical sense though, the term Historically Black Colleges refers to those colleges that focus on providing quality higher education opportunities to African American students, including public and private schools, two-year and four-year institutions, community colleges, and graduate-level institutions.

Most Historically Black Colleges and Universities are located in former slave-slates in the Southern region of the United States, but in recent times such institutions have developed all across the country to provide higher education to African American students throughout the nation.

Historically Black Colleges, Schools, Universities:

Historically Black Colleges and Universities are a source of accomplishment and great pride for the African American community and the entire nation. The Higher Education Act of 1965 defines a Historically Black Collegfes as: "...any historically black college or university that was established prior to 1964, whose principal mission was, and is, the education of black Americans, and that is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association determined by the Secretary [of Education] to be a reliable authority as to the quality of training offered or is, according to such an agency or association, making reasonable progress toward accreditation."

Historically Black Colleges and Universities offer all students, regardless of race, gender, or socio-economic status, an opportunity to develop their skills and talents at an institution of higher learning. These colleges train young students who often continue on to serve across the world in the public and private sectors.

Recent News about Historically Black Colleges:

A History of HBCUs

The history of Historically Black Colleges and Universities int eh United States is closely tied to the Federal Government

In 1980, U.S. President Jimmy Carter signed an Executive Order that established a federal program "to overcome the effects of discriminatory treatment and to strengthen and expand the capacity of historically black colleges and universities to provide quality education."

Soon thereafter in 1981, President Ronald Reagan issued a second Executive Order establishing the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities, which expanded the previous program and set into motion a government wide effort to strengthen Historically Black Colleges and Universities across the nation. In 1989, President George H.W. Bush established a new Presidential Advisory Board on Historically Black Colleges and Universities to advise the president and Secretary of Education on methods, programs, and strategies to strengthen these valued institutions of higher learning.

Years later in 1993, President William Jefferson Clinton signed an executive order that required a senior level executive in each agency to maintain oversight in ensuring the strength and longevity of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Later in 2002, President George W. Bush signed an executive Order transferring the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities to the Office of the Secretary within the U.S. Department of Education, as it stands today.